Trends in Public Financial Management – The Entire Budget Cycle

This is section 3.2.2 of a series of blog entries creating a Government IFMIS Technology Evaluation Guide. This includes information to assist in evaluating IFMIS options and the technology requirements for FreeBalance IFMIS implementations. These series will be combined with feedback to produce a comprehensive Technology Evaluation Guide to be published on our web site.

Public Financial Management is budget driven. The budget represents the legal embodiment of government intentions. Government organizations utilize software applications to satisfy many or all of the steps in the budget cycle. Governments are moving to support and integrate the entire budget cycle within an Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS).

The Budget Cycle

The budget cycle consists of three main stages:

Budget Preparation or Formulation where government objectives are translated into budgets and appropriations. The budget preparation process includes comparisons with previous year budgets, actuals and outcomes. Multiple year budgets are typically prepared because many initiatives and programs require many years before results can be effectively measured. There is often multiple budget proposals prior to legislative approval and the creation of the Budget Law.

Budget Execution represents public financial management functions that are budget-centric and are not accounted in traditional accounting. This includes up to two levels of commitments or encumbrances that sets aside funds from the budget. It also includes adjusting budgets to reflect macroeconomic changes, cash availability, forecasted budget variance and unexpected needs. Budget funds are transferred based on government legal requirements.

Financial Management and Reporting represents the public financial management functions that are typically supported by traditional private sector accounting. Revenue and expenditures are accounted for in the appropriate ledgers. Revenue and Expenditures are accrued if the government is using a form of accrual accounting. Government cheques and electronic funds transfers are supported.

Missing Elements of the Budget Cycle

Some elements of the budget cycle are typically not automated or fully supported in government systems. These include:

Aid managementis often not integrated within the budget preparation, execution or management systems. Many governments receive partner funds and intergovernmental transfers that are not accounted for in the IFMIS in any way. This restricts the government ability to effectively plan, especially if there is overlap in programs. It also prevents the government from effectively measuring the outcomes in any financial sector. And, it does not match any conditions associated with these funds that must be managed by the government.

Forecastingbudget variances and running scenarios is often relegated to spreadsheet applications relying on data exporting. Expected budget variances should be presented to IFMIS users in real-time to enable improved decision-making. Scenario planning to determine the affect of currency exchanges, prices for common goods or changes to union collective agreements should be built into the system from budget preparation through execution.

Commitments and obligationsare sometimes not supported in government systems. A commitment (or soft commitment or pre-encumbrance) is used to identify the beginning of an expenditure cycle such as when a purchase requisition is produced. An obligation (or hard commitment or encumbrance) is used to identify when the government has entered into a contractual agreement such as the issuing of a purchase order. Governments that track both steps can better forecast budget variances and cash requirements.

Cash and debt management systems are often not integrated within the IFMIS. This prevents governments from using cash effectively to generate interest. It prevents governments from effectively tracking debt obligations and adjusting budgets.

Revenue and expenditure subsystems are often not integrated. Governments can be faced with lower revenue from taxation than planned. This requires budgetary adjustments to reflect budget deficit rules and cash requirements.

Extra budgetary and parastatal revenue and expenditures are often not integrated with government financial information. The government may not have budget control over all entities or budget centres. Nevertheless, the government may benefit from revenue collected, is obligated to make up budget shortfalls or is subject for conditions from external partners.

Management Decision-Making

Government organizations are moving to the full support of the entire budget cycle. Full automation of the budget cycle provides necessary information to decision-makers. It enables comparing across multiple years and among governments. It dramatically improves budget execution to enable meeting government objectives and improving results.

Doug is responsible for identifying new global markets, new technologies and trends, and new and enhanced internal processes. Doug leads a cross-functional international team that is responsible for developing product prototypes and innovative go-to-market strategies.